Streaming live World Cup soccer games on airplanes is becoming a reality

United Airlines began offering live streaming of World Cup soccer games on select flights this week, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup. This service is available on up to 150 aircraft equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi, a collaboration with DirecTV, and will continue through July 20. United MileagePlus members can access the Starlink Wi-Fi for free, with availability notifications provided before flights. The airline, which introduced Starlink to its fleet in March 2025, plans to equip 1,000 aircraft with the technology by the end of the year, having already installed it on 400 planes. Starlink's high-speed internet is powered by over 10,000 active satellites. Other airlines, including Lufthansa Group, Air France, and British Airways, are also adopting or planning to implement Starlink Wi-Fi services.